The Improvised Life
Project Summary
Sam Miltich presents "The Improvised Life: Exploring Intersections of Mental Health & Creativity through Jazz," a program highlighting Sam's own story of mental illness and recovery. Featuring original compositions, the program also includes music by famous artists such as Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Django Reinhardt and others that helped inspire Sam in the journey through the creative process in improvisation which has been so crucial in his pursuit of wellness. With a focus on hope for recovery, the program weaves musical performance with Sam’s experience exploring the intersections of mental health and wellness, the creative process used in improvising, connection to the natural world, and his pursuit of well-being amidst the daily challenges of living with schizophrenia. He will describe his definition of recovery and the sense of purpose he cultivates through quality engagement in music, nature, and family life in his native Northern Minnesota. Through this project, Sam hopes to expand exposure to jazz in rural communities and increase awareness of mental health across the Upper Midwest.
Sam experienced his first major psychotic break at age 22 and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia. Already a working jazz musician at the time of his diagnosis, he connected particularly with the music of jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk and has continued to use Monk’s music as part of his recovery. After reading a biography of Monk that went into great detail about the artist’s own struggles with mental illness concurrent with his deep dedication to his art and family, Sam was inspired to share that story with a wider audience. Monk’s compositions will be highlighted in the performance as well as Sam’s original pieces, and composition by other jazz greats.
Press
MPR News, Sam Miltich takes his message of jazz and mental health across Minn. By Dan Kraker. (5/23/19)
Grand Rapids Herald Review, Using a Musical Talent to Inspire Social Change (12/9/17) - (PDF)
MinnPost, Jazz Advocacy: Guitarist Sam Miltich Teaches Mental Health Tolerance With Music By Andy Steiner. (5/14/18)
Hometown Focus, Exploring Mental Health and Creativity Through Jazz (7/27/18)
Laketime Magazine, Mental Illness: An Interview with Sam Miltich. By Marah Evans (Fall 2018, p.50)
The Timberjay Newspapers - Tower-Soudan, Ely, and Cook-Orr. The Improvised Life.